East Africa · Street food
Donas (Cardamom-Flavored Comorian Beignets)
Golden, cloud-soft yeast beignets perfumed with ground green cardamom and enriched with creamy coconut milk.
The story
Found at almost every street corner stall in Moroni and Mutsamudu, Donas are the definitive mid-morning and late-afternoon confection of the Comoro Islands. Evolved from Portuguese and French maritime influences fused with local spice traditions, these ring-shaped or round fried breads are deeply scented with fresh cardamom rather than nutmeg or cinnamon. The incorporation of coconut milk into the yeast dough produces an exceptionally tender, moist crumb that stays soft for hours despite tropical humidity.
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